New York nursing homes face bedsore crisis

Despite vigorously trying to improve the quality of care at nursing homes in the last six years, the state of New York continues to face a nursing home crisis.

The culprit? Bedsores, and lots of them. According to a new article from the New York World, the state’s nursing home residents experience “painful and preventable bedsores at a rate almost 50 percent higher than the national average.”

Sixteen percent of high-risk residents have at least one bedsore—if not many—compared to 11 percent of high-risk residents nationwide.

The story outlines a few specific cases of bedsores in New York homes, including the tragedy involving 84-year-old Mary Lee. She developed multiple sores at Rutland Nursing Home, including a severe ulcer on her lower back. Her stay at the home resulted in sepsis, malnourishment and dehydration.

Mary Lee passed away last July.

In another case, an 81-year-old woman developed three acute pressure sores under the care of Rutland. The home settled for $275,000 in a 2007 lawsuit, but the woman passed away soon after receiving the sores.

New York patient advocates are fed up with the small fines nursing homes receive in most cases of neglect and mistreatment. The state continues to make efforts toward improvement, but things are not looking good.

Take action if a care facility has caused injury to your loved one due to its negligence. For a free initial consultation, contact the Kosieradzki Smith Law Firm online or toll free at (877) 552-2873 today.